Fading Gelcoat

[Jeff S]

AWK, have you done this? If so, can we see pictures? This is an intriguing option as one could potentially change the color (with a few coats). If you have done this, have you been happy with it? How long has it been on, etc. etc.?

How fast would a white X be with a blue stripe?

[Night Sailor]

You may not want to read this....
I just spent three hard days in high temps and humidity deoxidizing, and then heavy paste waxing my X with Trewax Four Seasons Boat Wax as protection, before leaving it at the boat yard for it's first bottom paint job. I figured there is always going to be fall out and overspay, etc. from a boat yard.

Then I saw the guy down the street seemed to have a new bowrider in his driveway. On my morning walk I said something about how nice a new boat shine is. He laughed. And told me the story. It's from 1980, is heavily oxidized, but he never waxes or polishes it. After washing off any bird droppings, fish blood, etc. he applies.... you will hate this.... a quart of 10w30 motor oil, lets it soak in and then rubs off the excess. Of course he has no nonskid on cambered decks to worry about, but it does give a nice shine. I didn't really believe him until I leaned down close and smelled it. Then he showed me his truck with black plastic trim everywhere. He said it fades to gray in a few months, but he makes it all black again with ..... vegetable oil from the kitchen.

Who wants to try oil on a part of the fiberglass you don't have to walk or sit on?

[Jeff S]

Does he leave behind a slick when in the water?

[Catigale]

At the risk of being branded a safety Nazi, for a sailboat where you have to go up on deck to deal with hardware, having oil all over your boat doesnt strike me as too good an idea..I dont think you could contain it to places you 'dont walk' very long.

[Night Sailor]

I couldn't think of anything to say to that guy about using motor oil. Later I wished I'd said, "I hope you don't smoke while on board a boat covered with flammable stuff."

I don't even want suntan oil on my boat's crew. It has to soak in and be greaseless or it's not allowed. I've slipped too many times on invisible greasy spots on the deck or coamings. Got the scars to prove it.

[AWKIII]

AWK, have you done this? If so, can we see pictures? This is an intriguing option as one could potentially change the color (with a few coats). If you have done this, have you been happy with it? How long has it been on, etc. etc.?

How fast would a white X be with a blue stripe?

Actually, your boat could be any color combination that Awlgrip makes and they make quite a few. Awlgripping a boat isn't anything new. If you want to make an old tub look like it just came out of the factory, this is the only way to go and it is done all the time. Check out there website. Most sport boats also use it for their bottom. Because it is as slippery as snot in the water. Of course, these boats go in the water for a race and come right out afterward. How long does it last? Assuming you wax once a year, I cannot imagine it fading at all.

Was over at ebay earlier and in the sailing parts section they are selling something called Presto. Interesting read. Another miracle gelcoat restorer.

The fading issue is a quality issue with MacGregor and they really should address it. Only true fix is Awlgrip.

[Randy McCotter]

Well I sure opened up a can of worms here. I try a good wax and see how that does. I'm sure I'll have to do it again soon and then use awlgrip before I put it in the water next spring. I'm sure i can wax/polish like a madman this year but next year.... Awlgrip. Wonder if I go blue, I may be able to get an extra knot or 2 out of it.
Thanks guys! Anytime I have a question, you all give great answers (and comedic relief too)

Randy

[ssichler]

For cars this stuff is awesome and does a great job on taking out light scratches - http://www.zainostore.com/ Anyone ever try it?

[Jeff S]

I certainly agree that there is a quality issue with Macgregors coloring of the gelcoat (at least in the X's). I have owned other fiberglass boats that seemed to hold their coloring better than the Mac. Never had to use Awlgrip, or anything like it before, but would be interested to see it on a Mac if someone has it. I know old boats use many products that I haven't had the pleasure (or misery) of using. I am sure glad I don't have to take care of wood! I would much rather spend my time sailing. The fading doesn't bother me much anymore, I have learned to accept it like Dmitri and just go sailing.

[Don B]

I seem to recall some posts about a year ago suggesting a portable power washer to bring back some of the luster. Does anyone else remember these posts or what size power washer is recommended?

Also a guy in New Bern , NC posted on here about using some kind of coating over the black and I not sure if it is that Poliglow product or not.

I would be curious to hear him say how it has held up.

I think if I painted my black with anything I would like to have it be grey or some color that is not as painful to sit or walk on.

-Don B

[Frank C]

As mentioned above, Awlgrip is nothing new. Epoxy paints are THE standard for boat decks, but most don't want to spend the time or cost on painting. A gelcoat boat will look great for about three years but UV radiation is the killer. You either garage the boat, cover the boat, or deal with UV degradation. The paint probably has a longer sun-life, but that too will suffer.

P.S. - The reason Roger uses black is to mask the windows. Any alternate color will make it look like a completely different boat ... and will look much worse, IMHO.

An easy to use boat cover is the answer to protecting the finish. Same is true for cars, trucks, motorhomes and travel trailers (maybe with the exception of Delorean cars and Airstream trailers). This is why I hope that BoatBimini Bob comes up with a versatile boat cover. IMO, the fully versatile cover comes in two parts. This means that it also works with mast up, and it's only "half the heft" for folding and stowing. I'm completely uninterested in making it an airtight cover - prefer having it open on both ends for ventilation and to deter "denning" by cats or other critters. It's a sun-shade and rain-fly, for my purposes.

It also doubles as anchoring covers, just the aft or both in a very hot clime. I'd like to see it employ ARCHING tent poles or PVC, so it would look like a ShadeTree in either configuration, storage or anchoring. A light colored and light weight fabric would be my choice - silver gray is fine.

[Don B]

"P.S. - The reason Roger uses black is to mask the windows. Any alternate color will make it look like a completely different boat ... and will look much worse, IMHO."

Hmm.. maybe the answer than is a lighter colored plexiglass window.

-DonB

[Frank C]

... Hmm.. maybe the answer than is a lighter colored plexiglass window.

Of course that's a possibility Don, but I'm suggesting that it's such a bold step, one should consider it carefully. I've seen only one 26X that was significantly revised, and I did not care for the look. I'd also suggest spending a little time with Photoshop or Paintshop Pro to test out the options.

I think it was Ernest G, the guy who cruised his Mac from Puget Sound to Juneau AK, and back. Ernest completely removed the black accent stripe, leaving just the windows in a white background field - not a favorite for me, making the 26X look shorter, and maybe it makes the cabin looked taller? (might have been Duane who has a picture of that boat in the album from cruising the San Juans?)

But once you remove that gelcoat, I guess you're stuck with making some other major change - window color? Maybe a change to blue tinted windows on a blue background ... would that be faster!?

[Jeff S]

Maybe a change to blue tinted windows on a blue background ... would that be faster!?[/i]

Then the Cabin would have a bluish color in the light! The black looks good, and goes with my UV cover, mainsail cover, pedestal cover, stripe, bottom paint, and the windows. I would certainly paint it black if I painted it. I understand that epoxy paints aren't new, but I haven't used them. Has anyone here used Awlgrip or a product like it on a fiberglass boat, if so how did it hold up, how hard/easy was it to use, did it fade like the gelcoat, etc.? It seems like some here have experience with the products more than just knowing they exist. I have heard of Awlgrip, but never have considered using something like it before and would like to here experiences first hand. If it requires the same amount of upkeep as the gelcoat I'll stick with my faded black.

[Frank C]

Then the Cabin would have a bluish color in the light!

My point, exactly Jeff! Whatever other color you use for the windows would be a disadvantage IMO. Even clear ... would be too hot. And using any deck color that contrasts with the windows will cause them to stand out.

As for the epoxy paint, in six years of reading in the forum I don't recall anyone ever reporting that they had painted the decks of a Mac 26. But you'll surely find discussions of deck paint on other boating fora. I think AWK's suggestions are valid ... you'll spend a bunch of time and money to do paint properly, and then probably be satisfied for a long time.

If I believe reading from elsewhere, the epoxy paints have less oxidation problems than any other type .... in fair exchange for their cost & application difficulty. The DIY Boat Owner magz has regular articles on deck painting (bottom painting too). See here for their complete collection of CDs - they have an entire CD of articles on the topic of painting boats, only 20 bucks.